Marc

Conditions were light rain, cool with almost no wind. Out leg was good, better than last year but died badly at 18 miles, losing minutes after that. 1.11.41 represents my worst time ever on any course, but you get the results based on your level of training. Bloody freezing after the finish, really glad of those bacon rolls.
Just as well I wasn’t expecting much today, because that’s what I got.

In

Thanks Marc - cant do Saturday otherwise would have joined.

CHARLIE GOT A PUNCTURE!!!

That was a good Arran run with a strong team at the start...but Arran being Arran it seems to always manage to throw challenges at you! We were setting a good pace until I got a pinch puncture going over a pothole at 25 miles to go...we decided at the start there will be no waiting and so I mended the puncture and set off in TT mode keeping calm not to blow early. 3 miles later I see Jan on the side of the road with a puncture, gave it a quick thought and decided I would keep going as agreed at the start. Just before Lochranza climb there were some road works and I was stopped by the workers for 2 or 3 mins ruining the momentum I had going . They gave me the go ahead and then back to TT mode, half way up the climb looked back and saw Jan catching up...I thought perfect we would rejoin for the last 10m as I needed a good push to catch the 11.05 ferry! At that point it was around 10.30 already so once we rejoined we set off at a good pace sharing the workload and just manged to catch the ferry...don't think would have made it alone. Thanks Jan for the nice steady wheel at the end and Paul and Ian for the team work at the start .
That's SA done 

Dry and mild night but a bit breezy ,
Well done to all.
All riders paid .
Joseph - 19.56
Alan - 19.38 
Iain C -17.37 
James - 17.24 
Iain M - 16.20  PB
Richard 15.36
Billy 17.14
 

A lot of clubs have instagram accounts...and now so do we!
https://www.instagram.com/johnstonewheelers/
I intend to post some general club related things whether it be photos from club runs or race photos or whatever  - a lot of this content will be shameless reposting of photos from strava (but will credit this). If you want anything added message me, likewise if you want anything removed.
 

Robbie you will be pleased to hear my reign of terror is over.   
-----
Kom:
Me, Marc, Galeb
Intermediate:
Marc, Paul
Finish:
Paul, Marc, me
 
Overall standings....im bound to have missed someone out here it was a big bunch tonight.

Name Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Overall Iain Mct 12 12 6 30 Paul Mcd 5 0 8 13 Marc 1 0 9 10 Darryl 1 5 0 6 Richie P 0 6 0 6 Robbie 3 3 0 6 Stevie 5 0 1 6 Ryan 0 4 1 5 Galeb 0 2 2 4 Alan T 1 1 1 3 David 1 1 1 3 Eric 1 1 1 3 Jesse 1 1 1 3 Andy 0 1 1 2 Charlie 1 1 0 2 James 1 0 1 2 John Clark 1 0 1 2 Joseph 1 0 1 2 Paul L 1 0 1 2 Anthony 0 0 1 1 Gary D 0 1 0 1 Gary K 1 0 0 1 George 0 0 1 1 Gerard 0 1 0 1 Gregg O 0 0 1 1 Ian A 1 0 0 1 Glen 0 0 1 1 Scott M 0 0 1 1 Cedric 0 0 1 1 John Craig 0 0 1 1

It’s never the coach it’s always the athlete that makes things better 
Though sometimes there are challenges that are just too big in all senses of the word Charlie 

First time out on the chaingang.  Great fun, I think? 
Spent the last few years training  to cycle at a steady pace, saving somethIng for the marathon.  This all out pace is just mental.  
And I love it !!!!!
Best decision ever to tag along (and get dropped....(common theme)) on a Sunday bunch ride.  Thanks to JWCC for being so welcoming and patient with us newbies.

Jan assured me no points on first night. It was just a reconnoiter 

You've just made Paul McDonalds DAy 

Don't finish work until 6pm so it'll be a struggle. Maybe get along in a few weeks. 

Just turn up Caleb, you are restricted to your small ring... luckily I have a 58/52 

Moderators: please remove this post as it offends me.

My midweek days off vary however will be out when I can. Cheers

Too much carbon/lack of mudguards in the middle bunch today, I'd be ashamed of myself!

Screamer. Picture postcard day to be round the coast. It was a bit cold if you were in the picture mind you. 10 of us rolled a high and smooth tempo to Largs. Young team were out and some calming words required as we set off at Tuesday night pace and I was dipping into the red before Bishy. It felt hard, I think it must have been as we were at Largs for 11.35 which is about the earliest I can remember. Continued on in same vein and bodies like me started to sit back from Ardrossan due to gubbedness. 4 of us got pumped on the lower slopes of the Kilimanjaro drag. It was a scenic but sore ride home in the afternoon sunshine from the foot of Kilimanjaro. 

 

Thanks Paul.  Convalescence  has started. Take delivery of new bike next week. Hope staring at it will speed up my recovery.

Looking forward to this. It was great "fun" last year! 

Looking forward to this. It was great "fun" last year! 

It is getting close!
Just a heads up i'm intending to change things a bit this year to try and keep the competition a bit closer. I made it out most weeks last year which resulted in getting an large lead by the end of July. This meant if someone missed a few weeks with injury or if they occassionally had commitments other than cycling on a Thursday night then they were pretty much out of the running. 
So rather than it taking place over the whole summer it will now be a monthly competition. There will be an April winner (first one of the season will likely be 29 March which will be added to April scores, May, June, July and August). September we can decide when it happens - there were only a couple chaingangs in September last year and one of them was up and down the Georgetown a couple of times.
Unless the road surface is repaired then i dont think the Houston 30 is suitable anymore for an intermediate sprint. Perhaps move to the Georgetown where the road is smooth (and wider) towards the reception centre entrance. This is close to the finish so gives a choice - sit in and save it for the finish or go for this sprint and risk not having time to recover before the end.
Once the daylight allows the route will vary between usual west ferry and the sewing bee route. Because i know how much you all enjoy that drag from Stewarton
 

SOLD.

If you enjoyed cycling to Largs you need therapy Galeb. But meantime if you do, the JWCC Bunch are your perfect soulmates. Welcome to the club. 

Another day of crispy aurumn weather. Gound was frozen for the earlier races but eventually softened to the correct consistency.
Jamie Thomson and Mulholland junior in the youth races. Duncan and I in the old guys' race. I was very disappointed that our El Presidente DNSd due to a little cold. Historically this is a pan flat course but the organisers found some actual steps to liven things up. The spiral was much fun, four decreasing circles anti-clockwise followed by four or five to unwind. Bonkers, entertaining and hard work, the only let up was the 180deg turn at the centre to reverse direction.
I could not clip in at start so bang went 10 places into the singletrack. Duncan and I waved to each other in the spirals. I got very tired. Plus ca change.
Davey and Paul looking good in a very strong V40 field. Apologies for jeering at Paul who seemed a bit rubbish on the final lap but, unknown to me, had a front puncture so massive chapeau for finishing while holding off the mob behind.
A great day out with racing for all ages, skills and sexes. It was super to see so many families. Big womens' field, there are too many to ride with the men now which means that they no longer leave me wallowing. Hurrah.
This is the most accessible and friendliest cycle sport and they even have an espresso van. I can't race next weekend so any newbies around 5'8-6' would be welcome to borrow my bike for Plean.